There’s a little confusion in Provo as to who will be quarterbacking the Cougars on Saturday against the Badgers. So what does that mean for Wisconsin’s preparation?
Our opposite number (Lawless Republic) covering all things BYU reported that there is significant uncertainty regarding the health status of BYU’s starting quarterback.
The Cougar’s Tanner Magnum has a fantastic name for a quarterback (#HotTake). But there are some strong signals that Magnum won’t be the guy quarterbacking BYU this Saturday against Wisconsin.
As Lawless Republic reports, Beau Hoge could get the call for BYU.
"Hoge played in three games during his freshman season in 2015. He completed 10 of 17 passes for 137 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He added 49 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.Hoge can take off and run – which may be a vital skill that could provide some extra yards or extend plays. But the problem is that he doesn’t get much run in practice."
According to his BYU bio, Hoge was a 3-star recruit according to ESPN and 247Sports. His senior year in high school Hoge ran for 865 yards and 26 touchdowns. The equates to a 57.7 yards per game rushing average a 1.7 rushing touchdowns per game average.
Related Story: Seven Questions with Lawless Republic about BYU
At 6-feet-1-inches tall and 210 pounds, Hoge has a build that should be okay running. Of course, we’ll see how he feels after Leon Jacobs and TJ Edwards introduce themselves.
Nonetheless, this could slightly alter the Wisconsin approach. BYU’s offense is 125/130 teams in scoring with just 11 points per game. S
By now, it is pretty obvious that BYU QB Tanner Mangum won't play vs. Wisconsin. Question now is how long he will be out. Detmer talks Weds.
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 12, 2017
o it’s fair if a bit unkind to note that the offensive has to be near its floor. It can’t get much more unproductive can it?
Therefore, a backup quarterback isn’t going to dramatically limit an already struggling offense. More likely, BYU has to condense its playbook. It’s unreasonable to think Hoge has full command of the entire offensive menu.
In addition, expect lots of short throws, screens, and pick plays that are designed for a mobile passer. BYU may ask Hoge to make one read and if it’s not there just run for his life.
Next: Wisconsin Football Announces 2020 2021 Schedules
As a result, that means Wisconsin has to be disciplined in tackling and its pass rush to close off escape routes. But in general, a tough offensive assignment for BYU gets even tougher with a backup quarterback.